Violin



13, 193,1. T. THRAsHER 1,819,928

VIOLIN Filed March 21. 1930 2 Sheets-shet 1 ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n -lllll 23 mvENToR ATTORNEY Aug. 18, 1931. T. THRAsHl-:R

VIOLIN Filed March 21. 1930 liu Patented Aug. 1s, 1931` PATENT ofi-*Fics TOY THRASHER, F GOLDEN, MISSISSIPPI VIOLIN Application filed Maren 21, 1930. seran No. 437,861.

This invention relates to improvements in musical instruments and more particularly to improvements in violins, and the invention has as its primary object to provide a violin so constructed that it will possess a deeper tone yand will deliver sound waves of greater volume than the ordinary violin.

Another object of the invention is to provide a violin of such construction that full advantage will be taken of the vibrations of the strings of the instrument thereby, as stated, amplifying the depth and volume of the tone.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combinationvand arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood of course that minor changes may be made so long as they fall within the scope of the claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying "f drawings, ywherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the f several views, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a violin constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the violin.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional' view through the body of the violin.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the body of the violin and a portion of the neck and finger board thereof. y

As illustrated in the drawings, the violin comprises, as f vis usual in musical instruinstruments of this class, a body 1 which is of a resonant wood and which body includes the usual circumferential wall 2, back 3 and belly 4. The neck of the violin is indicated by the numeral 5 and mounted thereon is the ii usual finger board 6 over which the strings `7 are strung, from the keys which are indicated by the numeral 8.

So far as described, the instrument embodying the invention, does not differ from an ordinary violin, but in order that sound waves may be deepened' and amplified, a horn indicated in general by the numeral "D is arranged Within the body 1 of the violin, and this horn is symmetrically arranged within the body and has its bell end 10 positioned at the forward end of the body and in communication with openings 11 which are formed `in the circumferential wall 2 of the body at opposite sides of the connected end of the neck 5. Except for the fact that the rim of the bell 10 of the horn isy united, adhesively, or otherwise, to the inner sides of the back 3 and belly 4 and about the walls of the openings 11, the horn is, throughout its length, spaced from the back, belly, and circumferential wall 2 of the body of the violin except that at its rear end the horn lis provided with an upwardly directed neck ndicated by the numeral 12, which neck is fitted through an opening 13 formed in the belly 3 near the rear end thereof.

The numeral 14 indicates, in general, a sound wave amplifying unit comprising the Y usual metal casing 15 and diaphragm 16V which is mounted in the outer wall of the casing, the casing of the unit being preferably provided witha short tubular extension 17 which is fitted into the yend of the neck 12 of the horn so that this end the horn is placed in communication lwith the interiorof the casing of the sound wave am plif ingr unit. The casing 15 is held in place pre erably by means of a wire 18 which is connected to the face of the casing at the rear thereof and engaged at its intermediate portion in a plug 20, which may be of wood or metal, and which has its stem 21 fitted in an opening 22 formed in a reen forcing yblock 23 which is preferably secured to the inner side of the circumferential wall 2 of the body of the instrument at the eXtreme rear thereof, the wire being of such length that it will be tensioned so that the casing of the sound wave amplifying unit will be held stationary. The vibrating element of the said unit is indicated by the numeral 24 and is mounted at the forward side of the casing in the usual manner as indicated by the numeral 25, the tip end 26 of this element being connected with the diaphragm 16 at the center of said diaphragm.

The mounting for the Vibratory element 24 is preferably provided With a socket 27 and a strip-like head 28 of metal is provided with a stem 29 which is itted in the socket, a set screw 30 being threaded through the outer side of the socket and adjustable to bind against the stem so as to hold the head 28 in proper position above and spaced With respect to the belly 4 of the body of the instrument. The strings 7 are engaged through openings 31 formed in the head 28 and knotted or otherwise held therein.

From the foregoing description of the invention it Will be evident that as the instrument is played, the vibration of the strings Will be transmitted to the vibratory element 2i of the sound Wave amplifying unit lll and to the diaphragm 1G of said unit and that these Waves will be amplified as they pass through the horn 9. 1t will further be understood that due to the connection of the strings to the vibratory element of a sound Wave amplifying unit and amplifying the volume of the Waves by the utilization of a horn arrangement within the body of the instrument, the tones derived will be deeper and of a more pleasing quality and at the same time louder than the tones ordinarily given oft from a violin.

lVhile the invention has been described as embodied in a violin, it is quite obvious that it might be adapted to other stringed musical instruments of the violin type Without departing from the spirit of the invention and might even find embodiment in stringed musical instruments of the mandolin or guitar type.

That 1 claim is l. A. stringed musical instrument including` a body carrying' a finger board having strings connected thereto and extending over the body, an amplifying horn located in the body and having a restricted end extending through the body, a sound reproducing casing secured to the last named end of the horn, a diaphragm in the casing, a diaphragm arm secured to the diaphragm, and a head connected to the strings and to the arm.

2. A stringed musical instrument including a body carrying a finger board having strings connected theretoI and extending over the body, an amplifying horn located in the body and having a restricted end extending` through the body, a sound reproduc-ing casing secured to said end of the horn and disposed over the body, a diaphragm in the casing, a diaphragm arm secured to the diaphragm and pivotally connected toI the casing, a soclreted extension formed on the pivoted end of the arm, a head secured to the strings, an extension on the head and detachably secured in the socketed member, a plug secured to the body,

ture.

TOY THRASHER. 

